upon the gallows or gibbet, for speaking a word or making a sign merely, let them go to the South, and proclaim their opposition to "slavery in the abstract," in the ears of those who enforce the laws above noticed; then we will believe them.

10. Higher than the highest.

We cannot be reminded too often of this solemn truth ; — God is infinitely acquainted with everything that in any way concerns the oppressor and the oppressed; and he is pledged to deliver all such as are afflicted, when they call upon him in faith.

11. Maketh wise men mad.

The word here rendered mad, is from halal, which signifies, among other things, to be haughty, arrogant, wicked. If mad be the correct rendering of it, here, we might inquire, whether oppression produces this effect upon the enslaver, or the enslaved, or whether this effect be produced upon both as well as upon those who look on and witness its effects in others. Admitting those are mad who are praying for the abolition of slavery, as some pretend to believe, this state of mind is produced, it must be remembered, by the crimes of others, and perhaps it were as desirable to suffer it, as it is to be

"Frighted when a madman stares."

But it is, however, a well-known fact, that one of the first and most direct influences which the slave system produces upon the minds of all who become connected with it, is to render their dispositions arrogant and haughty. The following testimony from Thomas Jefferson, may be considered as conclusive evidence upon this point.

"The whole commerce between master and slave is a perpetual exercise of the most boisterous passions, the most unremitting despotism on one part, and degrading submissions

on the other. The parent storms, the child looks on, catches the lineaments of wrath, puts on the same airs in the circle of smaller slaves, gives a loose to his worst of passions; and nursed, educated, and daily exercised in tyranny, cannot but be stamped by it with odious peculiarities. The man must be a prodigy who can retain his manners and morals undepraved by such circumstances."

CHAPTER VII.

ISAIAH.

God commands the oppressor most explicitly to let the oppressed go free.

1. Cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed; judge the fatherless; plead for the widow. Isa. i, 16.

2. For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant; and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry. Isa. v, 7.

3. Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is a hypocrite

and an evil doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. Isa. ix, 17.

4. And they shall take them captives whose captives they were, and they shall rule over their op pressors. And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve. Isa. xiv, 2.

5. For they shall cry unto the LORD, because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a Saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. Isa. xix, 20.

6. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppres sion and perverseness, and stay thereon; therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. Isa. xxx, 12.

7. He that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stop peth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks; bread shall be given him, his waters shall be sure. Isa. xxxiii, 15.

8. I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways; he shall build my city, and

he shall let go my captives; not for price nor rẻ ward, saith the Lord of hosts. Isa. xlv, 13.

9. Thus saith thy Lord the LORD, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury:-but I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, bow down, that we may go over; and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street to them that went over.

li, 22.

Isa.

10. Cry aloud, spare not; lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob, their sins. Isa. lviii, 1.

11. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Isa. lviii, 6.

12. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out, to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Isa. lviii, 7.

13. Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall bring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward. lviii, 8.

Isa.

14. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity. Isa. lviii, 8.

15. And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light tise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday. Isa. lviii, 10.

16. And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isa. lviii, 11.

17. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called the Repairer of the breach, the Restorer of paths to dwell in. Isa. lviii, 12.

18. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. Isa. lix, 3.

19. Their feet run to do evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings, they have